PSC Golf from the Pattaya Links Golf Society
Monday, March 11, Burapha – Stableford
A-Flight (0–16)
1st Tommy Marshall (7) 39pts
2nd Paul Smith (4) 37pts
3rd Paul Durkan (8) 37pts
4th Petur Petursson (6) 37pts
B-Flight (17+)
1st Darren Beavers (17) 41pts
2nd Derek Phillips (18) 37pts
3rd Masa Sugaya (22) 36pts
4th Richard Dobson (29) 36pts
It was quality golf again at a quality course on Monday as the society took thirty-five golfers to Burapha to play a stableford competition on the C and D nines. The course was in fine condition and the weather was hot.
In the top flight three golfers tied for the minor places on 37 points, invoking a countback to refine the positions. In fourth place was Petur Petursson, following Paul Durkan in third and runner-up Paul Smith. The flight winner was Tommy Marshall with 39 very solid points.
The second flight was no less competitive with fourth place going to Richard Dobson on 36 points, losing on countback to Masa Sugaya on his return from Japan. Runner-up was Friday’s Green Jacket winner, Derek Phillips with 37 points. The round of the day was that of Darren Beavers who bullied the course with some strong and accurate shots to amass 41 points on the toughest combination at the club. Darren is a golfer who is either “hot” or “not” but today saw him at his best.
Near pins went to Mitch Carlon (C5), Tony Browne (C8), Connie Walsh (D2) and Tony Leng (D8) whilst the best front nine award (non-winners) went to Phil Davies with 19 points, Merle Humphreys taking the back-nine honours with 18.
Wednesday, March 13, Pattavia – Stableford
A Flight (0-18)
1st Paul Smith (4) 37pts
2nd Kevin LaBar (13) 37pts
3rd Paul Greaves (16) 36pts
4th Maurice Roberts (11) 36pts
5th Phil Davies (12) 36pts
B Flight (19+)
1st David Bibby (19) 39pts
2nd Tip Briney (26) 38pts
3rd Richard Dobson (26) 37pts
4th John Tallet (25) 35pts
5th Greg Gawron (19) 34pts
The society returned to Pattavia on Wednesday, not without some trepidation having heard the day before that the greens were back to their pacey best. However, Pattavia’s management had decided to water them earlier in the day and they were certainly more amenable for the earlier starters.
The field was divided into two flights, cut at eighteen and under and the quality design made for some competitive golf.
In the top flight the Links’ rivalry between Phil Davies and Maurice Roberts invoked countback as they both recorded 36 points but Maurice retained the bragging rights and took fourth place. In third was Paul Greaves with the countback taking him above Maurice. The runner-up was Kevin La Bar with 37 points but the winner was Paul Smith with another countback deciding in his favour as his 37 points reflected his best gross of 75.
Things were a little more clearcut in the second flight as Greg Gawron took fifth place on his return with 34 jet-lagged points, one behind fourth placed John Tallett. In third was Richard Dobson with 37 points and runner-up was Links stalwart Tip Briney with 38. The best points score of the day was returned by David Bibby and he took his first green jacket with a solid 39 points.
Near pins were won by Greg Gawron (5), John Evans (7), Pete Seil (12) and Richard Dobson (17).
The consolation awards for the best nines went to Petur Petursson (19 on the front nine) and Mike Davies (20 on the back nine).
Friday, March 15, Treasure Hill – Stableford
A Flight (0-19)
1st John Holmes (16) 40pts
2nd John Chelo (19) 36pts
3rd Chris Barker (11) 32pts
B Flight (20+)
1st Mike Firkin (25) 41pts
2nd Richard Dobson (26) 32pts
3rd Tip Briney (26) 32pts
We had one of our smallest fields for quite some time today as, after one no-show and two non-competition players, we started with 30 players in two flights with the cut at nineteen.
We were told that this course was in excellent condition and, after playing today, there is no argument about that. Although the rough and beyond has started to brown, the fairways are kept green and in great condition. The renovation of the tee boxes has pretty much settled and the greens are superb, running with good pace and true.
The “A” flight saw a return to Links, after a long absence, of John Holmes who immediately made his presence felt by recording a very sound 40 points to easily win the flight. From the same group, his buddy, John Chelo, had a good result to take second place with 36 points. It seems that this trip there is no keeping Chris Barker out of the placings and he took the only remaining spot in the flight, scoring 32 points to beat last week’s Green Jacket winner, David Bibby on countback.
“B” flight provided the star of the day in the shape of Mike Firkin. After being plagued by frustrating injury/injuries, he came back to the front with a power game and his 41 points was way ahead of the rest of the flight and gave him his third Green Jacket. A big gap then to a three-way tie on 32 points which saw the resultant countbacks going to Richard Dobson in second, 21 points on the back nine, and Tip Briney sneaking ahead of the unlucky Bryan Barrell.
Bryan didn’t miss out though, as he was then the winner of “best front nine” (non-winners) with 17 points, while Len Jones came home stronger to nudge out John Anderson to take “best back nine” (non-winners) on countback.
Near pins went to John Holmes, Colin Service, Jim Ferris and David Bibby.
